The Rodeo Fire (easternmost cluster of red dots) in east-central Arizona is burning within the Fort Apache Indian
Reservation about 100 miles east-northeast of Phoenix (seen southwest of the fire as a large area of grayish pixels
surrounded by scattered spots of dark green vegetation.) On Wednesday, the fire spread 9,000 acres in just three hours,
and as of Friday morning had grown to 85,000 acres. Possibly a hundred structures have been destroyed, and thousands
more are at risk. Three communities in the path of the blaze have been evacuated, and a major power line had to be shut
down as the fire approached. The fire began on Tuesday, June 18, from human causes. Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 20, a
second human-caused fire started just west of the Rodeo Fire and quickly spread to 7,000 acres as of Friday morning. The
Chediski Fire (westernmost red dot) is 0 percent contained and has forced evacuations of two communities.
This image was acquired by MODIS on June 20, 2002.
Image Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov